Page 46 of Wintertime Love (Holiday 2)

The question is so out of the blue that I gape at him. “That’s not what I—”

“I know but I still want to know, regardless.”

I stare at him, my mouth snapping shut, and then against my will, I force out, “I don’t know what there is between us. I’m not planning to tie you down or something if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Then what do you intend to do?”

I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what I want when it comes to this man. All I know is that he’s managed to creep under my skin and I’m terrified.

“Would it be easier for you if I just up and left?”

“No!” the cry slips out of me before I can stop myself.

From the way Finn’s eyes widen, he’s also taken aback but he doesn’t look upset by it. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. His eyes are glinting, and he murmurs, “Well, well.”

I get to my feet, flustered, “I mean—that’s not what I was—”

“Sit down, Clara,” he says, calmly.

I find myself bending to the authority in his voice even as I resent myself for it.

He so rarely uses my name. It’s always ‘Darlin’’ or ‘luv’. But when he does use my name, it seems like the situation is serious or that he’s no longer in a playful mood.

My heart is hammering against my chest. “I have to—”

“I think

this is an important conversation to have,” he interjects, easily. “I’m sure you can put off whatever else you have to do.”

I mutter something unattractive under my breath.

His lips twitch. “What a dirty mouth you have on you.”

The phrase reminds me of what he said last night and my cheeks heat up. I narrow my eyes at him to tell him that I’m not going to be intimidated so easily.

Finn just chuckles before sobering up. “I have other plans for the bar,” he finally says. “But my business partner is till fixated on setting up a branch here. So, for now, I’m just waiting around to see what happens.” He leans back in his seat, his arm stretching over the back of the booth. “But I quite like this town. I might never leave.” His eyes are dancing with laughter.

I frown. “Not funny.”

A somber expression settles on his face and he sits up straight, reaching out to cover my restless hands with his own, “Whatever happens, Clara, just know that I will never hurt you.”

His words are earnest but I’m afraid there is little chance of that happening.

He’s a bit too late.

Finn’s enthusiasm in helping out with decorating the diner is cute.

“I forgot how much fun this was,” he tells me, wistfully, as he stands on the ladder, pinning up the tinsel’s around the doorway.

I’m sitting on the ground trying to figure out how to wrap the lighting around the plastic snowman. “Didn’t you ever decorate your dorm at school or college?”

He’s silent and then shrugs. “What’s the point if there’s no one else to enjoy it?”

I stare at his firm back in that grey T shirt and my heart aches for him. “What about this Christmas?” I ask, hesitantly.

“What about it?”

“What are your plans?”

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